Canada’s Conservative Party Taps Keystone Pipeline…For Cash

Workers remove a large clamp from a section of pipe during construction of the Gulf Coast Project pipeline in Prague, Oklahoma.

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is many things to many people: a jobs creator for U.S. Republicans; an oil spill waiting to happen, to many environmentalists; In cash-strapped Alberta, it’s a potential economic lifeline.

Now, Canada’s governing Conservative party has fashioned the project into a fund-raising cause. The Tories are asking members for money to help it make the case for Keystone XL in the U.S. and at home, according to a letter sent to potential Conservative party donors, reviewed by Canada Real Time.

In its plea, the party said it needs the money to compete against what it said has been anti-Keystone arguments made in the U.S. recently by the leader of Canada’s main opposition party–Thomas Mulcair of the New Democratic Party.

Mr. Mulcair visited Washington this week, and the Conservatives have accused him of lobbying against the line, proposed by TransCanada Corp., to carry more Canadian crude to U.S. markets.

A spokesman for Mr. Mulcair said the NDP leader didn’t make a case for or against Keystone while in Washington because he said it would ultimately be up to policymakers in Washington to decide. “But it is always flattering to see Conservatives so concerned with our travel plans,” the spokesman said.

The Conservatives, and the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, have criticized Mr. Mulcair for not vocally supporting the line, which would help alleviate a bottleneck of Canadian crude that’s sent prices down sharply, sapping Alberta’s provincial budget and threatening tax receipts in Ottawa.

“Instead of supporting this pro-Canada project, NDP leader Thomas Mulcair traveled to Washington and did what the NDP always do when travelling abroad–attack Canadian jobs,” reads the letter, written by the Conservative Party’s director of fundraising.

“Will you chip in $5 or whatever you can afford and stand against Mulcair’s NDP?,” the letter said.

A Conservative party spokesman, Fred DeLorey, said in an email Friday that it is “important” that Canadians be informed about Mr. Mulcair’s “anti-jobs, anti-development” agenda.

About Canada Real Time

Canada Real Time provides insight and analysis into what’s making news in Canada, a country punching above its weight on the world stage thanks to its vast resources and strong banking sector. Drawing on the expertise of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, we take a look at developments in fields ranging from business to politics to culture. You can contact the editors at canadaeditors@dowjones.com